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Python Python Basics (2015) Letter Game App Random Item

Posted by Kate Dougherty
Kate Dougherty
8,334 Points

Reproduce random.choice() challenge generating a NameError

Hi,

I'm getting "NameError: name 'random_item' is not defined." I'm not sure why.

Thanks.

item.py 
# EXAMPLE
# random_item("Treehouse")
# The randomly selected number is 4.
# The return value would be "h"
import random

str = "Kate"

def random_item(str):
        return str[random.randomint(0, len(items) -1)]

1 Answer

Dan Garrison
Dan Garrison
22,457 Points
Dan Garrison
Dan Garrison
22,457 Points

There are 3 main issues I can see.

  1. Indentation issue. There is an extra indent on your return
  2. Your randint method is misspelled. It should be randint not randomint.
  3. You are doing the len(items). It should be len(str) since you are checking the length of the argument provided in the function

Also, a word of caution on using str as a variable name or an argument. str() is a builtin function used to turn values into strings. Depending on how it is used, it could create odd behavior or even make things a little confusing when developers see it used in other places.

Kate Dougherty
Kate Dougherty
8,334 Points

Making those changes worked. Thank you!